RSA Senior Cup Final - Pembroke v YMCA - Claremont Road - Sunday 18 August
There are a number of articles that have been written on this site, and elsewhere, previewing the RSA Cup Final between Pembroke and YMCA. Ger Siggins, as usual, has produced a comprehensive guide to the game, which must count as recommended reading for members of both Clubs and any other supporters who wish to attend and sound knowledgeable during the day. Certain facts will be repeated ad nauseam: Alan Lewis won his first Leinster Senior Cup medal before half the players were born, Pembroke only have three players from last season’s cup final team, and plenty of references to 1980 and the only other time these two teams have met in the final.
However, with the production of the fantasy table, this article hopes to add to the myriad of facts and provide some diversity to the conversations around the ground. The figures below only relate to First XI cricket played in 2013.
Using the weekly fantasy table figures we discover that the sides are quite closely matched. Whilst the top two overall point leader slots are filled by YMCA, Pembroke hold five of the top eight.
The top ranked player is Simmi Singh with 1,651 points and the gap to the second ranked player is quite sizable. A reflection of the great season Simmi is having. This has been, quite rightly and duly recognised by the Provincial selectors. Simmi has 551 runs, including one century, and is the leading run scorer on both squads. His would be a prized wicket come Sunday. Simmi is the fourth ranked player on the fantasy table of all Leinster players, and averages over 90 fantasy points per game. Reinhardt Strydom is the only other player in either squad to score more than 500 runs or to score a century in Leinster cricket so far this season and he is known for some quite destructive batting at the top of the order.
In terms of batting averages the top three positions are all filled by the Claremont Road club: Reinhardt Strydom (47.91), Simmi Singh (42.38) and the returning Jeremy Bray (36.89). But Pembroke’s Theo Lawson and Barry McCarthy (both averaging 35.00) and Danny Barclay (30.57) are all capable of runs, and Pembroke supporters will be hoping that two or all three of them make sizable contributions.
On the bowling side, Simmi Singh leads again with 37 wickets at an average of 14.19 and an economy rate of just under four per over. Support is provided by Yaccoub Ali with 19 wickets. Ryan Hopkins has 29 wickets at 19.38 and at a cost of 4.34, but Pembroke can also point to spearhead of the attack, Allan Eastwood with 26 wickets at 20.65 or Paul Lawson’s 20 wickets and an economy rate of just under 5 per over. Barry McCarthy’s side strain has meant he has only bowled 66 overs this season, but when he does it is highly effective with 16 wickets at under 4.5 per over.
Only Allan Eastwood of the Pembroke bowlers has taken a five-for this season, with YMCA having four players who have done so, Robbie Garth, Simmi Singh, Reinhardt Strydom and Trent Johnston.
Unlike the full fantasy table where players have good averages by only bowling one over, or even one ball, one wicket, the cup final squad bowlers are all regulars. Best bowling averages belong to Simmi Singh (14.19) and Trent Johnston (14.22). Allan Eastwood has bowled the most overs (141), has the most maidens (23). Trent Johnston has the best economy rate at just a tad over 3.75 per over. Theo Lawson may resist the temptation to turn his arm over, with his one over this season costing 17 runs.
Catches win matches is an oft quoted cliché and it is a cliché because it is so true, proved again and again. YMCA Captain Albert Van Der Merwe has the most catches (14) and is closely followed by, yes again, Simmi Singh (12) and Jack Tector (9). However, Pembroke’s fielding drills have paid off too with the next seven places in the catches listing all belonging to Sydney Parade players.
Behind the timbers for Pembroke, Lorcan Tucker has filled Rohit Bahl’s gloves more than adequately with 8 catches and four stumpings. The YMCA keeper is likely to be J Cassidy with his 10 catches and 5 stumpings, but they could also call upon Lee Cole who has 3 catches and 2 stumpings or veteran Jeremy Bray who has also taken the gloves during the season and has 1 stumping and 2 catches.
To quote Donald Rumsfeld, There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know. That is the great thing about sport and specifically about cricket. There are so many unknowns, known or otherwise, any one of which could tip the balance in favour of one team or the other. Cricket is played on grass not paper and all the talk and discussion in the world will not affect the outcome.
One known unknown is who Pembroke will plump for as their 11th player. In Ger Siggins’ article, YMCA named a squad of 12 players, which David Streek has subsequently modified adding J. Cassidy and Robbie Garth, whereas Pembroke named 10 and A. N. Other. Pembroke could still spring a selection surprise from their large First team squad which includes the returned Richard Hastie, off-spinner David Poff, Harry Balbirnie, Gary Baugh, or the experienced Bill Whaley. Fiachra Tucker’s representative tour means he is likely to miss out on this game, having forced his way into the First team after playing Division 10 cricket last season. However with his tour manager, Reinhardt Strydom being named in the YMCA squad, perhaps young spinner Tucker will be available.
The unknown unknown is which of the players will shine, inspire or lead to glory on Sunday. Come Sunday evening it is hoped we will be talking about the players on the field and not the missing ones, such as Pembroke’s now returned home professional Brenton McDonald or the home grown Andy Balbirnie.
Ger Siggins has tipped YMCA to win on Sunday, given that the squad Pembroke have named only has five front line bowlers, so every one of them would have to firing on all cylinders, including the hopefully recovered Barry McCarthy. It is a logical view and can not be disputed, and YMCA must be considered favourites, albeit by a small margin. Being a Pembroke member, my heart goes with the Sydney Parade team, but I fear the big guns of YMCA, especially that man Simmi Singh.